Mid-range handset also won't run the latest iteration of Android Jelly Bean.

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Samsung today released details on the Galaxy Grand, a middle-of-the-road Android handset featuring a 5-inch WVGA display, a 1.2GHz dual-core processor and Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean. The phone will come equipped with a 2MP front-facing camera and an 8MP rear-facing camera with Full HD video recording, as well as 8GB of internal memory, 1GB of RAM, and microSD expansion capabilities. The handset will also feature a thicker, larger profile than its predecessor, the Galaxy S III.

World travelers may be delighted to know that the Galaxy Grand will be available in two versions, including a dual-SIM version that will allow users to operate two phone numbers at once, as well as make and receive calls from each specific number. The handset will also include several Samsung-specific features, like Direct Call, which enables users to dial a number by raising the handset up to their ear, and Popup Video, which allows users to watch a video in a pop-up window despite the task on hand.

Currently, there is no word on when the Galaxy Grand will arrive or how much it will cost. It’s being announced at a time when a few other 5-inch Android handsets have hit the scene, including 1080p-capable smartphones from rival manufacturers LG and HTC. However, the Galaxy Grand is limited to an 800 x 480 resolution because of its WVGA display, which doesn't measure up well against its competitors and truly shuts it out of the top tier of Android phones.

the Galaxy Grand will be available in two versions, including a dual-SIM version that will allow users to operate two phone numbers at once, as well as make and receive calls from each specific number.

While I understand that we're mostly all tech savvy (snooty? ) around here on Ars, I suspect a lot of consumers are willing or might not notice much the difference in resolutions and would be happy with a cheaper yet still good looking handset.

Wow, 480 pixels, are you serious. Couldn't pay me to use that screen as my primary phone. Once I got my hands on high-DPI devices I could never ever ever go back. If you have eyes, and you use these eyes to examine words, absolutely worth it.

Edit: I understand there is a very real and important market for phones that aren't top of the line. But me personally, in that situation, I would take the highest DPI in my price range, no matter how small the physical screen dimensions get!...

They should make one or maybe two models and customers should like what they can get! Screw them if they want something different, or have price limits or stupid things like that.

Actually there are several companies that develop dual SIM phones and many different models in Asia, it was started by Nokia way back... this is mainly to keep business and personal life separate without having to carry around two phones or having to swap SIMs.In Asia people carry more than two phones sometimes, one for SMS, one for In/Out Bound calls and another for data connection and all from different providers (To get the best offer from each) and there is always a lot of churn.

Wow, 480 pixels, are you serious. Couldn't pay me to use that screen as my primary phone. Once I got my hands on high-DPI devices I could never ever ever go back. If you have eyes, and you use these eyes to examine words, absolutely worth it.

Edit: I understand there is a very real and important market for phones that aren't top of the line. But me personally, in that situation, I would take the highest DPI in my price range, no matter how small the physical screen dimensions get!...

There is a lot of spoil brats that want the best the best phone. When you trying to get the best, it shows the worst in you. I have a Samsung Galaxy S that is fine for me. Somebody donate it to me because they have new phone. Does anybody remember that phone because it has low resolution like the Grand, not as many processors, the processor is clocked at 1000 MHz and not at 1200 MHz, and RAM is 512 MB which half as Grand. The donated smartphone came with a 3rd party firmware. It runs Android 4 or that is Jellybean whatever. I use the smartphone to carry my passwords that are encrypted, maps, and that is about it. Using it for web is pain because it such a small screen. I might use the calendar, but that is rare.

If The Grand is half the price as other smartphones and people just want a cellphone that is under no contract, it makes a good phone. The Grand has better features than my phone, but I do need it. I do not want it either.

If it's free on contract, it might be a great first smartphone for your grandparents.

Watch it buddy, I'm not that old.

I'll definitely be watching the price on these things. When the iPhone launched it started a necessary race in upgrading the hardware to match the feature set we suddenly expected, but at this point I don't feel like I need the latest and greatest anymore. Just like with desktop PCs. I'll take a slightly lower spec and a chunk of change left in the bank, unless some new application comes out that drives a leap in hardware requirements.

the Galaxy Grand will be available in two versions, including a dual-SIM version that will allow users to operate two phone numbers at once, as well as make and receive calls from each specific number.

Wow, 480 pixels, are you serious. Couldn't pay me to use that screen as my primary phone. Once I got my hands on high-DPI devices I could never ever ever go back. If you have eyes, and you use these eyes to examine words, absolutely worth it.

Edit: I understand there is a very real and important market for phones that aren't top of the line. But me personally, in that situation, I would take the highest DPI in my price range, no matter how small the physical screen dimensions get!...

Since you are willing to pay the high price tag for that high end phone this phone is obviously NOT targeted at someone like you...

/face-palm

I'm sure people with less disposable income than you would appreciate what this phone offers them.

They should make one or maybe two models and customers should like what they can get! Screw them if they want something different, or have price limits or stupid things like that.

Ah yes. Samsung choice. You can have any phone as long as it's 5". What about those of us who want a phone that can be used with one hand?While I might despise apple for it's business practices iphone is almost perfect size and even it's shape is real nice. All this race to biggest screen and thinnest phone is creating phones that are not really very usable as a phone instead of a small tablet.

They should make one or maybe two models and customers should like what they can get! Screw them if they want something different, or have price limits or stupid things like that.

I don't think the complaint is with the variety. One of the main reasons Android has such a huge market share worldwide is due to the fact that you can get an Android device at virtually any price point. However, sometimes it feels as though manufacturers release a new phone just because it's new, not because it offers anything better. For example, a 5" screen running at 800x480 is a bad idea. For reference, that's the same resolution as the HTC One V, which has a 3.7" screen.

Yes, lower resolution means bigger touch targets. However, even first-time smartphone owners will notice jagged text, blurry photos, etc. resulting from such a low resolution on a large display. In this case, it isn't about offering "choice". Samsung is intentionally releasing a phone with a terrible (at that size/resolution combination) display. Just because it's mid-range, doesn't mean buyers don't quality components. That's why people are complaining.

g0m3r619 wrote:

I'm sure people with less disposable income than you would appreciate what this phone offers them.

Again, the complaint isn't the low resolution; it's the combination of low resolution and giant screen. Stick that resolution on a 4" display and it looks perfectly acceptable. It's just a poor choice to make a display that large with such a low resolution.

Again, the complaint isn't the low resolution; it's the combination of low resolution and giant screen. Stick that resolution on a 4" display and it looks perfectly acceptable. It's just a poor choice to make a display that large with such a low resolution.

To have a penny/free phone that's big like the expensive phones. Although I'm confused by why dual sim would matter for that.

You see where they mentioned "World Travelers?" that's where the dual SIM would come in handy. I have my regular phone I use while in the US then I have a less capable world phone i use while outside the US. Having a 2nd SIM slot on my regular hone would eliminate my need to hold on to that 2nd phone.

I'm sure people with less disposable income than you would appreciate what this phone offers them.

Again, the complaint isn't the low resolution; it's the combination of low resolution and giant screen. Stick that resolution on a 4" display and it looks perfectly acceptable. It's just a poor choice to make a display that large with such a low resolution.

The Galaxy S3 mini is the phone a lot of you are looking for - roughly the same model in a 4" screen, rather than 5", with a single SIM slot. Samsung also has lower-end phones for those looking for less.

As for 4.2 vs 4.1, 4.2 has proven to have a handful of bugs that Google is still working out on the Nexus devices. Latest isn't always the best choice, I think non-nexus buyers would just rather have something stable.

At first I did think too that the combination of such a low resolution and big screen was completely stupid, but then I thought about my father who is somewhat vision impaired and came to the same conclusion as burndive.This might be a perfect gift for people with poor vision (maybe even in conjunction with the launcher obarthelemy pointed to, thanks!) and/or those who don't need the latest and greatest. I will be keeping a close eye on this.

Stone, the S3 Mini is not really that good of a deal. The S2 goes for roughly the same price and beats it in pretty much every aspect. The S Advance has almost the same specs and is quite cheaper.

They should make one or maybe two models and customers should like what they can get! Screw them if they want something different, or have price limits or stupid things like that.

Ah yes. Samsung choice. You can have any phone as long as it's 5". What about those of us who want a phone that can be used with one hand?While I might despise apple for it's business practices iphone is almost perfect size and even it's shape is real nice. All this race to biggest screen and thinnest phone is creating phones that are not really very usable as a phone instead of a small tablet.

Here take your pick - http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-p ... l-productsIn case you didn't know - most of the listed phones are actually <5". If you don't getto buy it, blame your US carrier, don't blame Samsung. The rest of the world meanwhilewill buy whichever phone suits them (Samsung or otherwise).

No it doesn't! DPI = dots per inch. It's a measure of quality, not size. Higher DPI looks better, lower DPI looks worse. On a properly designed OS (like Android), touch targets will be (almost) exactly the same size, no matter what the DPI is. Stop mixing up DPI with font size!

Personally I think a large screen with relatively low resolution is a bad combination. But that's the great thing with Android - there's so many choices that if this one doesn't appeal to you, pass and there's a dozen others.

Price will be the deciding factor. If it's cheap enough, there's lots of people that would happily pick up a "big screen phone" and accept the low res for the price. It would do nicely for texting, image viewing, and less-demanding games (how many actually need a quad-core 1.7GHz beast?). Browsing won't look great but the large display will offset that.